Photos and Feelings from Artemis II

To commemorate Artemis II, Space Scout compiled photos taken by our team members throughout the mission. We also asked the team to answer a brief prompt: What does Artemis II mean to you? The galleries and testimonials below capture our perspective on this historic spaceflight.

Dramatic sunrises greeted the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft ahead of the launch of Artemis II.

Artemis II is our first step towards sustained, long term exploration of the solar system through a truly international coalition of nations – a translation of our ability to come together and work with one another into one of the greatest achievements of humankind. This mission, and all the ones that follow it, will help us push the boundaries of what is technically possible and hopefully bring us together in a common understanding of our home planet.

Nik Alexander

Crowds of people flocked to Titusville, Florida, to witness the launch of Artemis II, including many photographers and journalists.

Artemis represents what passionate people can accomplish in pursuit of incredible goals. The program isn’t perfect, it hasn’t been, and likely won’t be, but it is incredibly human. Human emotions, talent and effort pour over every part of the mission, from conception to execution. Nothing could be more tantalizing and human than the program’s first human crew. A core value of human spaceflight is the ability to look up in the sky, towards the Moon, and know that now, today, incredible brave human beings could be looking back. Despite all the ups and downs, the setbacks and shakeups: it is still worth going, and so we will go.

Scarlet Dominik

After suiting up, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen greeted press before departing for the launch site.

For me, Artemis 2 is a major step in what I hope will be a more focused and accelerated effort by the United States and International Community to take deeper manned space travel seriously. Since spaceflight is a new interest of mine, I missed out on the Space Shuttle era of the early 2000s, so I never got to appreciate the technology, missions, and the vehicle itself. Now more than ever, Artemis and this second mission feel like my Generation’s next great leap, and one that will hopefully expand exponentially with time and public investment. This is my Generation’s chance to experience an Apollo like event, and to be inspired with so many more resources at our disposal to reach beyond what was thought possible and be a part of history.

Nickolas Wolf

Artemis II lifted off the pad at 6:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 11 minutes into its April 1st window.

I grew up reading books and watching documentaries about spaceflight; the shuttle program ended just as I became aware that space exploration was something that we can do. In college, several of my professors turned out to be shuttle astronauts. To be along for the ride today with Artemis II has transformed my understanding of these great journeys we take together. Every mission is so rich with humanity—not just the camaraderie of astronauts representing a more diverse cross-section of our world, but the people on the ground, from eager scientists to passionate journalists to your friend who’s tuning into a mission for the first time in their life. It’s transformative in every sense, and I hope that in the future, kids around the world will learn from teachers who have walked on the Moon. 

Beverly Casillas

Remote cameras near Launch Complex 39B captured liftoff from point-blank range.

To me, the Apollo missions are high on the list of the greatest achievements in human history. However, the more I’ve learned about them over the years, the more I’ve realized that we went to the Moon a bit too early. Over the last 53 years, our technology and understanding of crewed spaceflight has drastically improved. Artemis 2 has returned humanity to the Moon, and in doing so they captured the imaginations of millions. I look forward to gaining a better understanding of the lunar environment, and the inspiration these missions will continue to provide. But most of all, I look forward to the moment I can look at our Moon in the sky and know that humans are standing on its surface once more.

Nick Boone

The Space Launch System soared past the American and Artemis program flags as seen from the site of NASA’s famous countdown clock.

The Artemis II mission blasted off towards the moon carrying not just four brave astronauts and scientific instruments, but the American spirit of grit, exploration, and defiance of the status quo. Artemis answers the call to adventure whose echo over the past 250 years inspired adventurers to cross the Atlantic, the creation of a nation, pioneer wagons to head west, and the Wright Brothers to take flight. That same call to adventure now reverberates through the atmosphere as Americans head to the moon once again, farther than any have gone before, continuing America’s centuries-old tradition of looking off into the unknown and saying “let’s go.”

JJ Carola

As seen from Launch Complex 34, Artemis II rose from the past, and into a new future of exploration.

During my relatively short time doing rocket photography, I’ve always viewed rockets as these grand machines representing the culmination of thousands of years of human growth and development. During my relatively short time doing rocket photography, no mission has exemplified that sentiment more than Artemis II. On a larger scale, it is the work of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of human hands, gathering their efforts to send four of our best and brightest into the vast expanse that surrounds our planet. I hope that all who look at Artemis II see a bit of themselves in the mission, as I know I certainly did. We are all human, and we are full of so much potential. It’s just about channeling it and sending it in the right direction, like any rocket does. On a personal level Artemis II was an opportunity for me to do that. It was something to pour all of my energy into and pushed me to grow more than any mission ever has, and potentially ever will.

Cameron Schwartz

The Artemis rocket powered through a nominal ascent, rolling to the launch azimuth and pitching downrange.

After the cancellation of Constellation, the long delays, and the turning over of so much to commercial enterprises, it was nice to have a reminder of what NASA can do on its own. The sense of participation and ownership in a public mission, the lack of proprietary restrictions, the focus on it being for everyone and because of who we are instead of in pursuit of financial gain, all made Artemis II my favorite space mission of the last 15-20 years by far.

Emily B

At about two minutes into flight, the vehicle cast off its solid rocket boosters. The core stage pressed into orbit, with a total ascent time of just over 8 minutes.

During the mission, NASA provided opportunities for media to follow along at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.